A group of Members of Parliament in Ghana has petitioned the Speaker to recall Parliament from recess for an extraordinary sitting. The petition, led by First Deputy Minority Whip Habib Iddrisu, seeks to address a series of major narcotics-related incidents involving consignments linked to Ghana. The MPs claim that the reported cocaine seizures raise concerns about national security, port and border integrity, and the country's international reputation.
The petitioners are seeking parliamentary scrutiny of a recent cocaine seizure by French authorities at the Port of Dunkirk on September 10, 2026. Nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine, valued at over $260 million, were concealed in a container carrying plastic waste that had departed from Ghana. The incident has raised questions about the security of Ghana's ports and export systems, customs controls, and intelligence gathering.
The MPs are relying on Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament to request the extraordinary sitting. They claim that at least 15% of the membership of the House supports the request, meeting the constitutional requirement. In a memorandum dated September 18, 2026, the MPs stated that the request was made in the national interest and to enable Parliament to exercise its constitutional oversight responsibilities.
The petitioners have proposed a parliamentary inquiry into the institutional, regulatory, and security matters arising from the cases. They want Parliament to establish the circumstances under which the container intercepted in France was processed and exported from Ghana. The MPs also seek information on the companies and institutions involved in processing and clearing the consignment, subject to restrictions necessary to protect ongoing investigations.
The MPs cited several other drug-related incidents since 2025 that require parliamentary attention. These include the interception of over 3.3 tonnes of cocaine at Pedu Junction in Cape Coast on March 4, 2025, and the seizure of 120 slabs of cocaine along the Takoradi-Cape Coast highway during the same period. The total value of these consignments is estimated to be over $500 million.
The petitioners also referred to an August 5, 2026 incident in which the Tema Regional Police Command seized 866 parcels of suspected cocaine concealed in sacks of gari at a warehouse within the Tema Harbour enclave. The consignment was valued at $6.9 million. They further cited the seizure by Australian customs authorities on June 18, 2026, of 320kg of methamphetamine, reportedly valued at $261 million, concealed in a consignment of charcoal traced to Ghana.
The total value of the narcotics seizures linked to Ghana over the past two years is estimated to be well over $1 billion. The MPs believe that Parliament has a constitutional responsibility to examine the relevant institutional and security issues without interfering with ongoing investigations or prejudicing the rights of persons under investigation. They are seeking a parliamentary inquiry or investigation into the matters, with the involvement of relevant security and regulatory agencies.
Key points
- The petitioners are seeking parliamentary scrutiny of a recent cocaine seizure by French authorities at the Port of Dunkirk on September 10, 2026.
- The total value of the narcotics seizures linked to Ghana over the past two years is estimated to be well over $1 billion.
- The MPs are relying on Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament to request the extraordinary sitting.
